The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-17
PREACHING TO LEGISLATORS
DR.. Gilbert's Discourse, Yesterday, to
Members of the General Assembly.
Rev. Myron W. Reeds Sermon at the First
Presbyterian Church-Services at Gen.
tral-Avenue and Other Churches.
INTEREST IN LEGISLATION

DIR. Gilbert's Sermon to Members of the Indi-
ana General Assembly Yesterday.
Dr. Gilbert's sermon at the Meridian-street M.
f. Church, yesterday morning, on the subject
Christian Interest in Our State Legislature"
was delivered to large audience, many of the
persons presen. being members of the General
Assembly, who attended the services in compli-
ance with the pastors invitation. His text was
l Timothy, second chapter, first and second
verses
The minister cannot, DR.. Gilbert said, be an
Indifferent spectator of that which transpires in
social, business and political circles. If he has
any truth that may be serviceable in the solu-
ton Of questions arising in any Of these rela-
TONS he cannot be silent without betraying his
trust For this reason he deemed it proper to
call attention to the interest which the Christian
community ought to feel in the proceedings of
the State Legislature. and the manner in which
the interest ought to be manifested
The Supreme Being wills that men, united by
common interests. shall enact rules and regula-
tons by which TO secure to all, as far possible,
those rights with which he has invested them.
He appoints the whole company in their asso-
clated capacity to guard and protect each mem
Der thereof in he free and peaceable possession
and enjoyment of all that with. which he has
been endowed by his Creator. This is the
American and New Testament theory of govern
ment The Christian is interested in the
government and in the character of its
administration. Because of his religion he is re-
CURED to be obedient to those who are in au-
thorisy. The Christian has double allegiance
growing out of one and the same great fact-he
is in covenant with God. By the vows which he
has assumed, he is bound to faithfulness in both
relations. He is anxious that the laws of the
State shall be in harmony with the laws of God.
The welfare of the church and the progress of
Chpycfc 1v <11
character of the civil government Political
combinations are necessary, and in all ages have
been useful in promoting important measures.
The caucus dominates the members to great
extent. Here new dangers arise. Men are SO
constituted that in their desire for the success of
that which to them to be best
they are liable TO resort to unworthy
means and to be governed by impure
motives. There have been proceedings in iegs-
lAtive halls which every good citizen, and GER
taiEly every Christian has reason to regret, such
intrigue. faisehood. treachery and fraud.
The results are deplorable, first upon all law
makers, and second upon the whole body of the
people Bitter feelings are engendered in
many hearts, and communities are dis
turbed by animosities that continue
for years. The tendency is to corrupt
the politics of the country and to dernoraize the
people Their respect for law is diminished, to
eether- with their confidence in those who are in
authority, and their government itself is i'm
periled, for nation depends for its existence
npon its virtues Ii the people, in their polit
ical action. he corrupted, all interests are in
jeopardy. Vicious and unprinciped politics have
overturned all the governments of the past, and
1t is against these assaults that hundred
governments, our own among them, are
to-day struggling They who have been honored
with seats in the legislative chambers do we'll to
remember that they must answer for the recti
tude of their deeds, the purity of their inten-
tions and the consequences Of both, not only to
their consciences and their God, but also to the
enlightened and sober scrutiny of the Christian
community
Prayer is the Christian first act Of interest in
the government Regardless Of party ties
they should insist purity in
;. politics. II bad men come to
leadership, even though temporary advantage
might be gained by following their plans
Christians must expose and condemn them
However wholesale denunciation of public mer
is as wicked as it is unwise. There good moi
in the Legislature, and they deserve Christian
sympathy and help to strengthen them in thu
discharge of their duties in the midst of al
foundations.